Va. cop dies during training exercise

A 16-year veteran officer reported difficulty breathing while training for the dive team

By PoliceOne Staff

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — An officer died while training for the department's dive team Tuesday.

Officer Timothy Schock had difficulty breathing while submerged during a search-and-rescue excercise at Oak Grove Lake Park, the Virginian-Pilot reported. Police Chief Kevin Wright said Schock's partner gave him a respirator after he told officers of his shortness of breath, but the move was unsuccessful.

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"Under the stress and duress of the situation, Officer Schock pushed away the apparatus and went back under water," Wright said. Divers returned Schock to the surface and after performing CPR with the aid of rescue crews, sent him to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Schock was a 16-year veteran of Chesapeake Police and is the department's third officer to die in the line of duty in the past six years.

"The Chesapeake Police Department would also like to extend its thanks to our fellow law enforcement professionals and the community at large for their outpouring of support and condolences during this difficult time,” Wright said.

Sources said information about a memorial will be released as it becomes available.